Why a Synthetic Hockey pitch?
The artificial surfaces of a synthetic hockey pitch give the players added manage of the ball. Coupled with elevated ball speed, hockey has create into a faster and added thrilling game.
Additional information on Field Hockey pitch and constructing there of.
A hockey pitch is the playing surface for the game of field hockey. Historically, the game was played on all-organic turf (grass) but nowadays it is predominantly played on an artificial turf. The transition onto artificial pitches came all through the 1970s and was designed mandatory for large competitions in 1976. All the lines, markings and target specifications are outlined by the International Hockey Federation in “The Suggestions of Hockey”.
All line markings on the pitch form aspect of the place which they define. For instance, a ball on the side line is nonetheless in the field of play a ball on the line of the penalty circle is in the penalty circle a foul committed far more than the 23-metre (25-yard) line has occurred in the 23-metre place. A ball ought to totally cross a boundary line to be out of play, and a ball ought to wholly cross the target line prior to a target is scored.
Due to the original formulation of the suggestions in England, the typical dimensions of a hockey pitch had been initially expressed in imperial units. The suggestions are now expressed explicitly in metric dimensions (due to the reality 1998), even though the use of the imperial terms remains widespread in some nations
Field of play on a hockey pitch
Colored pitches are employed to distinguish the field of play (green or blue) from the run-off (red/blue/yellow/orange/and so on).
The hockey pitch is rectangular in shape. The longer perimeter edges are referred to as the side line, the opposing shorter edges are referred as the back line and the portion of this amongst the target posts is identified as the target line. The side line ought to measure 91.40 m and the back line actually really should measure 55.00 m. There ought to be a minimum run-off of two m at the sidelines and 3 m at the backlines which may well probably be a different surface for the final meter. All line markings ought to be white and 75 millimeters wide. In each and every single corner of the pitch, a corner flag of no added than 300 mm square is attached to a post of height 1.20–1.50 m.
Historically, the pitch dimensions had been imperial and had been replaced by metric equivalents in 1998. The incredibly initially recorded suggestions represented what London clubs had been operating with at the time. Surbiton Hockey Club’s minutes from 1876 stated that pitches had been to be “100–150 yards (91–137 m) extended and 50–80 yards (46–73 m) wide”. Suggestions by the Hockey Association of England in 1886 specified “a single hundred yards extended by 55 to 60 yards (50 to 55 m) wide”.34 In 1905, the International Suggestions Board permitted the width of the pitch to be “up to 66 yards (60 m)” but this option was reversed in 1909.5 In 1975, the present width of 60 yards was written into the suggestions.34
On artificial surfaces, the field of play actually really should be coloured green, ultramarine blue or signal blue. It is permitted for the run-off portion of the pitch to be an solution colour. The London 2012 Olympics started a new trend for blue hockey pitches, because blue turf aids television viewers to clearly see the ball and markings on the hockey pitch all through gameplay. Not all hockey pitches have to be blue, but a yellow ball on blue turf is now the typical for specialist field hockey tournaments.
Target
A hockey target at the 1960 Summer season season Olympics. The target is deeper at ground level with side and backboards about the base.
Objectives consist of two upright posts placed equidistant from the center of the backline, joined at the top by a horizontal crossbar. The inner edges of the posts ought to be 3.66 metres apart, and the decreased edge of the crossbar ought to be two.14 metres (7 ft) above the ground. The goalposts and crossbar ought to be white and rectangular in shape with width 50 millimetres and a depth of 50 to 75 millimeters (.
The target ought to be at least 1.20 m deep at ground level and at least .90 m deep at crossbar level. The target place ought to be delimited at ground level by a target backboard and two sideboards of height 460 millimetres (18 in). Affixed to these boards, the posts and crossbar is a net to cease the ball.eight
Hockey nets can come in different dimensions primarily based on how deep at ground level and at crossbar level the target is. Widespread dimensions for a typical field hockey net are about 3.7m (W) x two.1m (H) x 1.2m (D).7
The incredibly initially hockey ambitions had been “7 feet (two.1 m) tall posts placed six yards (5.5 m) apart” but had been lowered to 4 yards (3.7 m) apart in the 1886 suggestions. In 1987, a rule was introduced so that at penalty corners “the incredibly initially hit at target actually really should not cross the target-line higher than 18 inches (460 mm)”. This saw the introduction of a sideboard and backboard to the ambitions which are now mandatory.34
Circle
A view of the penalty circle (sturdy line), the broken circle 5 m from it, and the penalty spot.
A target is scored when the ball passes totally far more than the target line but only if the ball was played by an offensive player in the penalty circle. On leading of that, the circle marks the place a goalkeeper may well probably play the ball with any aspect of his physique and the place precisely exactly where an infringement by a defender added benefits in a penalty corner. The terminology circle (or D) is extensively employed even though the place is primarily formed by a 3.66-metre (4 yd) straight line, parallel to the target line, connected to two 14.63-metre (16 yd) quadrant arcs.910
The 1876 suggestions stated that “no ambitions shall be permitted if the ball be hit from a distance of added than 15 yards (14 m) from the nearest goalpost”. A visible “striking circle” with “radius of 15 yards” was codified in 1886.34 The radius of the circle was elevated to 16 yards (15 m) in 1951 for men’s hockey and 1968 for women’s hockey.5 Any completely free of charge-hit inside 5 m of the circle has slightly different suggestions from other people with regards to other players’ distance a broken circle 5 m from the penalty circle denotes this location.ten
A penalty spot is centrally positioned straight in front of the target and employed for a penalty stroke. The spot is 150 mm in diameter and its centre is six.475 m from the outdoors of the target line.ten Penalty strokes had been introduced in 1963 for deliberately stopping a specific goal3 they had been initially taken eight yards (7.3 m) from target. In 1973, a stroke could also be awarded for a deliberate foul in the circle and the spot was moved to 7 yards (six.4 m) from target the following year.5
Other markings
Simon Gougnard prepares to take a penalty corner from the ten m mark. The 5 m line above demarcates the closest position a defender may well probably stand.
A half-way line, parallel to the back line, divides the pitch in two. The commence of each and every single period of play and resumption of play following a target starts with all players in the half they are defending. The line was also employed for the obselete offside rule.3
Each and every and each and every half of the pitch is then divided when once more by a line, referred to as the 23 metre line or 25 yard line, positioned 22.90 m11 from each and every single back line. Historically, this was incredibly initially employed to resume play straight away right after the ball passed far more than the back line and marked by flags at the side of the pitch. In 1949, deliberate defensive offenses in this place resulted in a penalty corner. From 1961, players on the defensive group who had been not involved at the penalty corner stood behind this line (this was then moved to the half-way line two years later). The line was also employed for the offside rule amongst 1987 till the rule was abolished in 1996.3 Presently, there are detailed suggestions relating to fouls and completely free of charge-hits in the 23 metre region of the pitch.12 Due to the reality 2015, the 23 metre line has also been employed for the attacking group to resume play when it has gone far more than the back line (this replaced extended corners).13
There are additional markings 300 mm extended and perpendicular to the back line that denote distances of ten m and 5 m from each and every single target post. These are relevant at a penalty corner the former is the mark from which the attacking group calls for the penalty corner and the latter is the closest position which a defender may well probably stand. These marks had been 5 and ten yards (4.six and 9.1 m) in earlier versions of the suggestions.3 There is a equivalent mark 5 m from along the side line (from precisely exactly where extended corners had been formerly taken) and a mark 14.six m along the side line indicating the level of the top of the penalty circle. There are also 150 mm extended markings precisely exactly where the target posts are situated.14
Artificial playing surface
“artificial grass permits easier ball manage and this in itself aids to decrease the quantity of infringements of the rules—which implies drastically much less whistle and fewer stoppages. The game therefore becomes easier to comply with, as successfully as finding a faster spectacle and a lot added fascinating from a spectator point of view.”
Historically, the game was designed on all-organic grass turf. Nonetheless, in 1976, the International Hockey Federation (FIH) designed artificial pitches mandatory at all large competitions.17 The 1976 Summer season season Olympics in Montreal was the incredibly initially of these even so at this time handful of players had observed or played on synthetic pitches.18 Even though it is nonetheless permissible to play on all-organic turf all national competitions and international matches ought to be played on an artificial surface.19 Elite-level competitions, such as the Olympic Games and Planet Cup, demand a water-mostly primarily based playing surface. Nonetheless, due to water conservation efforts, this is not observed as a extended-term sustainable option and solution elite surfaces that do not demand water are finding researched.20
There are three significant types of artificial hockey pitch surface:
• Unfilled or water-mostly primarily based – artificial fibers that are densely packed for stabilization, calls for irrigation or watering to remain clear of pitch place on
• Dressed or sand-dressed – artificial fibers can be drastically much less densely packed and sand supports the fibers for aspect of the pile depth
• Filled or sand-filled – artificial fibers can be longer and drastically much less densely packed and sand supports the fibers for a single hundred% of the pile depth
On water-mostly primarily based pitches, shorter fibers and wetted turf decrease friction and boost the speed at which the game can be played. Nonetheless, these pitches demand watering prior to, all through and straight away right after the game and upkeep costs are crucial.
Sand-dressed pitches value added than sand-filled pitches but are preferable for hockey as there is an absence of sand close to the playing surface. Nonetheless, a multi-objective surface proper for sports like association football and tennis is usually anticipated and hockey may well probably not be the predominant sport. There are a lot of different specifications and categorizations for artificial turf like shock absorption, surface rebound, friction, and strength outlined by the International Hockey Federation.26 Not as well extended ago, longer-pile third-generation or 3G pitches have create into frequent, in specific for football, but these do not frequently meet the FIH’s test criteria they are usually as properly inconsistent and slow.27
Criticism
The Planet Hockey magazine reported on the incredibly initially hockey tournament played on an artificial pitch in 1975—a trial occasion in Montreal prior to the Olympics—and described the surface had “huge benefits”.1516 Steve Ruskin, of Sports Illustrated, described that “A slow, analytical game gave way to 1 of nonstop, correct-hop action.”28 Nonetheless, it has been stated that the option to make artificial surfaces mandatory tremendously favored added affluent Western nations who could afford these new pitches.29 Ahead of the switch to an artificial surface the Indian men’s hockey group had been dominant, winning seven of the eight Olympic gold medals amongst 1928 and 1964.28 In 1996, Indian hockey player Ajit Pal Singh stated that in spite of its size ” can afford only 12 or so Artificial Turf fields”.Sardara Singh, captain of the Indian men’s hockey group, described that “hockey players in India play on astroturf [sic] for the incredibly initially time at the age of 19 or 20 and uncover it hard to adapt.”29 Nonetheless, the Pakistan hockey group have performed successfully following the alter of surface in spite of the nation finding worse off economically and acquiring fewer artificial pitches.16 When describing the alter of surface, Ruskin described that “for India it was like starting far more than, with all nations even in field hockey
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